Enduring Vision in an ever changing world 2014 | KOA ANNUAL REPORT ’ LetCAMPINGs go 2 A Message From Your PRESIDENT This year is a special year for the Owners Association for it represents the 50th anni- versary of our association. Because of this the theme we have selected for this year’s annual report is “Enduring Vision in an ever changing world”. With the fast pace of life, business and government we took a look back to reflect on what issues were important 50 years ago, and to think about how those issues relate to today’s environment. We reviewed the minutes of that very first meeting. It was held on November 20 and 21, 1964 at the Rimrock Lodge in Billings, MT. We have included the entire minutes of that first meeting for all of you to see. The meeting was called to order by Russ B. Hart. He welcomed everyone and said that “with more and more people camping, campgrounds all over the country are a coming thing. As you review the entire minutes you will see some issues that are still discussed by all of us at the convention each year. In this year’s Annual report we have focused on some of the issues the OA discussed with the KOA leadership. We have tried to focus on these issues and compare them to issues discussed at the 1964 annual meeting. While there are some major differences between then and now, there are many similarities. The role of the OA, its purpose and mission, its relationship with the leadership and staff of the KOA home office, and its relationship and communications with owners in the system remain much the same. In 1964 Dave Drum, President of the KOA at that time stated: … the association would be for the Franchise owners to discuss problems, pass along information that has worked for them, etc. and the part Kampgrounds of America, Inc. would take is to try to bring more people into your campgrounds through coop- erative advertising, etc., and to assist you to maintain standards that will encourage people to camp with you. During the meeting the owners in attendance talked about the importance of advertising and that it is the key “to our success and with a big push made this year to sell the KOA name and sign in as many ways as possible, we will have an excellent jump on any other group that might be thinking of a similar operation.” Now we all are in a similar situation with KOA again selling the KOA name with brands attached. When I talk to people about branding, I often hear myself use the term “change” and how to embrace it rather than simply say no to it. Remember way back when (I am dating myself here) as Kampsight first rolled out. I could hear the groans and complaints way up here in the north from all directions. Now we sit in a technological climate where KOA cannot change fast enough and we let them know about it. Change is everywhere and it shows no signs of slowing down. The new kampsight is under development and we all want our “input”. Your new Franchisee advisory group will be working with that project (the OA has a seat on that board), and the OA board will continue to monitor the project as well. There are more interesting comparisons in this report and it reminds me in many ways of the old adage: the more things change, the more they remain the same. This year is the second year of my role as President of the OA. I have truly enjoyed my term as your President and am honored to have been able to serve in this position. It has been a challenging period, but one that I believe has seen greater interaction with KOA, our OA Board and of course, you, the franchisees. Once again, I want to thank all of my fellow board members for their support, without them all of this would not be possible, it has been a true honour to work with people who care for the greater good of all KOAs. I also want to thank all of our associate members and you, our owners for your support and involvement with us these past two years. I encourage you to stay actively involved at your state/provincial groups, the 20 groups, and with corporate. Remember we all see things in a different way, so effective communication is essential. As someone once said “communication is the key, without it we are locked out.” Dave Barton President, KOA OWNERS ASSOCIATION, and Owner of the 1000 ISLAND/ IVY LEA KOA LANSDOWNE, ONTARIO, CANADA 3 KOA Owners Association Board of Directors 2014 Area 1 Area 2 Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, West Virginia Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island GREG BATTS VICKI COLE, PAST PRESIDENT Kentuck Lakes/Prizer Point Shelby/Mansfield KOA 35164 KOA 17146 6787 Baker 47 1777 Prizer Point Rd Shelby, OH 44875-9103 Cadiz, KY 42211 Phone: (419) 347-1392 Phone: (270) 522-3762 Fax: (419) 342-5353 Cell: (270) 350-2027 Cell: (419) 564-3495 H (419) 347-2299 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] MARK MANNING KARL SCHMIDT, TREASURER Fancy Gap/Blue Ridgepkwy Koa 46183 Elizabethtown/Hershey KOA 38181 47 Fox Trail Loop 1980 Turnpike Rd Fancy Gap, VA 24328 Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Phone: (276) 728-7776 Phone: (717) 367-7718 Fax: (276) 728-1014 Cell: (717) 201-0013 Cell: (480)-390-6782 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 4 Area 3 Area 4 Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, South Louisiana, Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa Texas, Arkansas JOE LONG MARSHAL GRAY Lena KOA San Angelo KOA 43111 10982 US Highway 20 West 6699 Knickerbocker Rd Lena, IL 61048 San Angelo, TX 76904 Phone: (815) 369-2612 Phone: (325) 949-3242 Fax: (815) 369-2018 Cell: (325) 656-6446 Cell: (630) 991-6690 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] HOPE PERKINS DIANE KING, SECRETARY Elkhart/Middlebury KOA 14133 Springfield/Rt 66 KOA 25137 52867 State Rd 5775 West Farm Rd 140 Middlebury, IN 46540 Springfield, MO 65802 Phone: (574) 825-5932 Phone: (417) 831-3645 Fax: (574) 825-1080 Fax: (417) 863-0295 Cell: (574) 849-7706 Cell: (417) 209-4845 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Area 5 Area 6 Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming New Mexico KIM CARRANZA PAMELA MENDALA Twin Falls/Jerome KOA 12109 Cloverdale KOA 5275 5431 Us Hwy 93 1166 Asti Ridge Rd, PO Box 600 Jerome, ID 83338 Cloverdale, CA 95425 Phone: (208) 324-4169 Phone: (707) 894-3337 Fax: (208) 324-4376 Fax: (707) 894-9206 Cell: (208) 490-0709 Cell: (707) 849-4697 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] HOMER STAVES, VICE PRESIDENT CRAIG SISCO Whitefish/Kalispell KOA 26161 Fort Collins/Lakeside KOA 3191 Parkhill 1910 Lakeside Resort Lane Billings, MT 59102 Fort Collins, CO 80524 Phone: (406) 656-7086 Phone: (970) 484-9880 Fax: (406) 656-7086 Fax: (970) 493-8900 Cell: (406) 672-2383 Cell: (970) 213-4081 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Area 7 Area 8 CENTRAL & EASTERN CANADA WESTERN CANADA HANS WAGNER JIM BROWN 1000 Islands/Kingston KOA Hinton/Jasper KOA 51124 2039 Cordukes Rd 50409 B Highway 16; Box 5052 Kingston, ON, K7L4V4 Hinton, AB T7V 1X3 Phone: (613) 546-6140 Phone: (780) 865-5061 Fax: (613) 546-6178 Cell: (403) 815-4833; Email: [email protected] Winter (403) 288-8351 Cell: (613) 546-6178 Email: [email protected] DAVE BARTON, PRESIDENT KOA INC. LIAISON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1000 Island/Ivy Lea KOA 55203 514 1000 Islands Pkwy JEF SUTHERLAND WILLIAM RANIERI VP Of Franchisee Service 3416 PRIMM LANE Lansdowne, ON K0E 1L0 PO Box 3055 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35216 Phone: (613) 659-2817 Billings, MT 59114 (800) 678-9976, (888) 461-2062 Fax: (613) 659-2992 Phone: (800) 548-7104 FAX: (205) 823-2760 Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Cell: (205) 587-5309 Cell: (613) 539-2018 (winter #) Email: [email protected] “ “ Withnew the new strength day comes newand thoughts. 6 Eleanor Roosevelt AN ENDURING VISION With Our Members Back in 1964 at the first OA annual meeting it was stated that the purpose of the KOA is to bring more campers into the system and to maintain high quality standards. It was further agreed that the success of this idea could only be assured by the vigilance that franchise owners have in maintaining high quality and clean camp- grounds. Together, the franchisees and the KOA have built an image so that when a camper sees the KOA sign he/she will automatically know they will be checking into a clean, well run campground. This initial relation- ship between owner and KOA would lead to success for the entire system. The Owners Association would be the roadmap to enhance this relationship and would be for the franchise owners to “discuss problems, pass along information” and work as a liason between owners and KOA. As we fast forward to today it is still one of our primary purposes to present and represent common concerns and problems of our members to KOA, Inc. To accomplish this task in today’s environment your OA board recognized the need to provide the opportu- nity for our members to have meaningful input to the board. Several years ago we focused on a multifaceted strategy to be sure the process for you to communicate with us was developed.